mohammed ali and his house-第83部分

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e　door；　and　she　knows　that　he　is　coming。

Her　countenance　radiant　with　delight；　she　stands　with　outstretched　arms；　as　she　had　stood　when　she　last　saw　him；　and；　as　then；　she　whispers：　〃I　love　him！　oh；　I　love　him！　My　soul　yearns　for　him！　I　would　clasp　him　in　my　arms；　and　yetno；　it　may　not　be！　〃murmurs　she；　interrupting　herself　and　letting　her　arms　sink　down　to　her　side。　〃No；　it　may　not；　cannot　be！　They　would　kill　him！　If　Bardissi　did　not；　L'Elfi　would！　And　then　my　oath！　O　Mourad；　be　with　me　in　this　hour；　that　I　may　remain　firm！　Be　strong；　my　heart！　It　may　not　be！〃

The　door　opened；　and　a　slave　entered　to　announce　that　the　Mameluke　bey；　Youssouf；　was　waiting　at　the　door　with　his　suite；　and　humbly　begged　that　he　might　be　permitted　to　see　Sitta　Nefysseh。

〃Let　him　enter；〃　said　she；　making　an　effort　to　compose　herself。〃　Tell　my　women　to　go　into　the　adjoining　room；　and　to　open　the　door。〃

Poor　woman's　heart！　So　strong　in　love；　and　yet　so　weak！　These　women　and　the　open　door　were　to　stand　guard　over　her　heart；　and　keep　her　from　forgetting　all　else　in　his　presence。

Now　the　door　opens　and　Youssouf　enters。　It　seems　to　her　that　he　has　grown　taller。　His　deeds　have　elevated　him；　and　his　countenance　is　radiant　with　energy　and　courage。　Yet　he　kneels　down　before　her；　and　kisses　the　hem　of　her　robe。

〃Sitta　Nefysseh；　you　bade　me　go；　and　I　went。　Upon　my　return；　my　first　thoughts　were　of　you。　I　wished　to　hear　from　your　sweet　lips　the　word　welcome！　Do　you　speak　it；　Sitta　Nefysseh？〃

〃Welcome；　Youssouf　Bey！　How　beautiful　that　soundsYoussouf　Bey！　But　rise；　it　does　not　become　the　hero　to　bend　the　knee　before　a　woman；　before　Nefyeseh。〃

〃I　was　your　slave　when　I　went；　now　that　I　have　returned　I　am　your　slave　still。　And　thus　should　he　salute　his　mistress。〃

He　bends　down。　lower　and　kisses　the　gold…embroidered　slipper　that　clasps　her　little　foot。

〃Youssouf！〃　she　cried；　in　severe　tones；　〃I　command　you　to　rise　from　your　knees！〃

〃You　see；　I　obey　you；　as　it　beseems　your　slave　to　do；〃　said　he；　springing　to　his　feet；　〃and　he　now　begs　to　be　permitted　to　enter　your　service　again。〃

〃My　service？〃　said　she；　with　an　air　of　astonishment。　〃Mourad's　widow　is　not　so　proud　and　not　of　such　high　rank　as　to　desire　to　have　a　troop　of　Mamelukes　in　her　service。　You　know　I　liberated　all　my　Mamelukes　at　my　husband's　death；　and　how　could　I；　who　have　so　few　servants　about　me；　dare　to　take　a　Mameluke　bey　into　my　service？　No；　such　honor　were　too　great　for　me。　You；　Youssouf　Bey；　must　go　out　into　the　world　again。　You　will　still　accomplish　many　great　deeds；　and　do　me　honor。　For；　when　your　deeds　are　spoken　of；　people　will　say：　'He　was　once　a　Mameluke　with　Mourad　Bey；　and　afterward　the　kachef　of　Sitta　Nefysseh。　It　was　in　Mourad's　house　that　he　grew　up　and　became　a　hero。'　That　suffices　for　me；　and　Sitta　Nefysseh　will　rejoice　in　your　renown。〃

〃Sitta　Nefysseh！〃　cried　he；　in　tones　of　anguish；　〃you　drive　me　from　you！　I　have　done　as　you　commanded。　I　went　out　to　battle　and　did　not　seek　death；　because　you　had　forbidden　me　to　do　so；　but　fought　like　a　lion；　and　earned　a　name。　Now　that　I　have　returned；　you　refuse　to　give　me　the　one　reward　I　desire。　While　the　bullets　whistled　about　me；　amid　the　din　of　battle；　I　thought　only　of　Sitta　Nefysseh；　who　would　bid　me　welcome　when　I　returned　home；　and　restore　to　me　my　place　in　her　house。　This　was　the　only　reward　I　sought。　And　now　you　drive　me　from　you！〃

She　had　listened　to　him　in　breathless　suspense。　It　was　bliss　to　hear　his　words；　yet　her　countenance　must　not　betray　her。　She　slowly　raised　her　eyes；　and　then　gazed　at　him；　long　and　fixedly。

〃Youssouf　Bey；〃　said　she；　〃you　cannot　remain　with　me；　and　though　it　may　seem　hard　to　you　to…day；　to…morrow　you　will　confess　that　it　is　impossible。　Youssouf　Bey　was　not　created　for　such　purposes。　He　is　a　hero！　Without；　your　men　await　you。　Return　to　them。　Those　who　imagine　that　peace　has　entered　the　city　with　you　are　in　error。　There　are　still　many　laurels　to　be　earned　by　Youssouf　Bey　on　the　battlefield。　Go　and　gather　them！〃

〃They　have　no　charms　for　me；　I　desire　only　to　look　on　you；　to　love　you；　Sitta　Nefysseh！　To　remain　with　you　and　dream　of　bliss；　and　perhaps〃

〃Be　still！〃　cried　she；　interrupting　him。　〃Do　you　wish　my　women　to　hear　what　your　folly　dictates？　Mourad's　widow　commands　you　to　be　silent。　Now　you　have　terminated　our　interview。　Go；　join　your　men！〃

〃Forgive　me；　Sitta；　forgive　me！　By　Allah；　I　entreat　you；　do　not　deal　so　severely　with　your　poor　Youssouf！　You　are　lustrous；　yet　also　cold　like　the　diamond！　You　know　no　mercy；　for；　alas；　you　know　not　love！　Yet；　I　conjure　you；　be　merciful；　do　not　drive　me　from　you；　and　I　swear　that　I　will　speak　no　more　of　love；　but　only　serve　you　as　your　faithful　slave！〃

〃Let　us　terminate　this　interview；〃　said　she；　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　shall　remain　convinced　that　you　should　not　stay　in　my　house；　and　you　will　therefore　go。〃

〃I　must　go！〃　cried　he；　in　despairing　tones；　〃yet　others　may　approach　you！　The　great　Bardissi　will　be　welcome；　and　L'Elfi　may　also　come。　They　may　speak　to　you　of　their　love　and　adoration；　but　me　you　command　to　depart！〃

〃No；　Youssouf；〃　cried　she；　〃to　them　I　shall　say；　depart　also！　I　swear　by　Allah　and　by　my〃

She　stopped；　she　had　almost　pronounced　the　word　that　trembled　on　her　lips。　〃By　my　love；〃　she　had　almost　said；　yet；　with　quick　command　of　herself；　she　added：

〃By　my　honor；　Bardissi　and　L'Elfi　shall　visit　me　no　more！　From　this　day　the　doors　of　my　house　are　closed　against　all　men；　this　I　swear　to　you；　Youssouf！〃

〃I　cannot　thank　you　for　doing　so；〃　said　Youssouf；　sadly。　〃If　no　man　is　to　cross　your　threshold；　I　also　am　banished　from　your　presence；　and　I　therefore　rather　entreat　you　to　let　others　visit　you；　in　order　that　I　too　may　come　to　you　sometimes。〃

There　was　something　so　humble；　so　imploring　in　his　voice　and　look；　that　Sitta　Nefysseh's　heart　was　touched　against　her　will。　She　could　not　do　otherwise；　she　held　out　her　hand　and　gave　him　a　kindly　look。

〃I　have　sworn　that　no　other　man　should　cross　my　threshold；　but　you；　Youssouf；　you　may　come　sometimes。〃

He　starts；　and　gazes　at　her　intently。　Her　voice　sounds　so　sweet；　so　changed；　and　his　eyes　sparkle　with　delight。

She　quickly　withdraws　her　hand　and　looks　down。　She　feels　that　she　has　betrayed　herself　for　a　moment；　she　feels　the　ardent　gaze　that　is　fastened　on　her；　and　dares　not　look　up；　for　fear　that　he　may　read　the　love　that　is　reflected　in　her　eyes。

〃Farewell；　Youssouf　Bey！　I　tell　you；　you　may　sometimes　come；　but　farewell　for　the　present。〃

She　turns；　and；　without　looking　at　him　again；　goes　into　the　other　room；　where　her　women　are　awaiting　her。　With　a　quick　movement　she　draws　the　curtain　over　the　door；　she　knows　that　no　one　must　see　him　at　this　moment；　she　knows　he　will　fall　on　his　knees　and　kiss　the　place　where　she　stood。　Yes；　she　knows　this；　for　she　loves　him；　and　understands　his　heart。

And　she　is　right！　He　has　fallen　on　his　knees；　and；　again　and　again；　kisses　the　spot　where　she　stood。　Then　he　stretches　out　his　arms　and　opens　his　lips　to　utter　a　sweet　word。　Yet；　he　does　not　pronounce　it；　for；　if　what　he　thinks　be　true；　the　air　itself　may　not　hear　it！　No；　his　lips　utter　no　word！　He　only　kisses　the　air　she　has　breathed。　And　now　can　he　go；　for　she　has　said　that　he　may　return！

He　turns　and　leaves　the　house；　his　soldiers　have　never　seen　their　kachef's　countenance　so　radiant　as　now。　He　mounts　his　horse；　and　gallops　off　through　the　streets；　followed　by　his　Mamelukes。

Sitta　Nefysseh　hears　his　horse's　hoofs　ring　out　against　the　pavement；　and；　like　him；　she　sinks　down　upon　her　knees；　and　stretches　out　her　arms。　〃Youssouf；　I　love　you！　Allah　be　praised；　I　have　seen　you　again！〃




CHAPTER　XI

MOHAMMED　ALI　AND　BARDISSI。


Sitta　Nefysseh　was　right：　peace　had　not　entered　Cairo　with　the　victorious　troops。　War　and　turmoil　prevailed　everywhere；　and　the　confusion　became　worse　each　day。

The　Mamelukes　now　ruled　once　more　in　Cairo；　and；　with　them；　Mohammed　Ali；　Bardissi's　beloved　friend。

Ismail　Bey　sat　enthroned　in　the　citadel；　and　was　the　outward　representative　of　the　magnificence　and　grandeur　of　the　Mamelukes；　but　the　real　rulers　were　Bardissi　and　Mohammed　Ali。　And　these　two　found　no　pleasure　in　lying　on　soft　cushions；　and　speaking　of　the　deeds　of　the　past。　They　longed　for　renewed　activity；　for　new　glory！　And；　even　if　this　had　not　been　the　case；　they　would；　nevertheless；　have　been　compelled　to　draw　the　sword　again。　For　the　Turks　were　marching　out　from　Alexandria；　and　many　places　in　the　south　were　still　in　their　hands。

Mohammed　and　Bardissi's　united　forces　march　out　to　a　succession　of　conflicts；　ever　returning　to　Cairo　crowned　with　victory。

Bardissi　and　Mohammed　are　united　in　love　and　friendship；　and；　though　the　former　seems　to　be　the　ruler；　the　latter　reigns　in　reality。　The　whole　city　is　aware　of　this；　and　those　who　have　complaints　to　make；　and　seek　redress；　come　not　to　Bardissi；　but　to　Mohammed　Ali。　To　him；　also；　come　the　consuls　of　other　countries；　of　England　and　France；　and　have　long　and　protracted　interviews　with　him。

The　object　of　their　meetings　is　known　to　no　one。　Their　conferences　are　always　private；　and　Bardissi　learns　of　them　only　what　Mohammed　chooses　to　tell　him。　〃Does　he　tell　him　the　truth？〃

Bardissi　is　convinced　that　he　does；　and　also　convinced　that　he　and　Mohammed　are　in　perfect　accord　with　each　other。

Ismail；　the　Mameluke　chief；　is　of　a　different　opinion；　and　often　warns　the　magnanimous　Osman　Bey　Bardissi。

〃Be　on　your　guard　against　Mohammed　Ali；　he　has　evil　designs。　Be　on　your　guard！〃

Bardissi　shakes　his　head。　〃Do　not　attempt　to　rob　me　of　my　friend；　my　second　self。　I　love　him；　and　I　know　that　he　loves　me！〃

〃He　will　lead　us　all　to　destruction；　if　he　can！〃　said　Ismail；　solemnly。　〃Mohammed　Ali　is　not　the　faithful　friend　you　suppose　him　to　be　！　Unfortunately；　the　future　will　prove　to　you　that　my　warning　was　well　founded。〃

Bardissi　disregards　the　warning；　and　angrily　affirms　Mohammed's　fidelity。　He　can　confide　in　his　friend；　and　in　the　wisdom　of　his　counsel。　And；　as　before；　Bardissi　continues　to　follow　Mohammed's　advice　in　all　things。




CHAPTER　XII

AGAINST　THE　MAMELUKES。


While　the　Mameluke　beys；　Ismail　and　Bardissi；　were　victorious　at　Cairo；　L'Elfi　Bey　still　lay　with　his　followers　at　Nisibis。　There　he　ruled；